Washington, May 13, 2022 – The Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo Arian Zeka was hosted by the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Ruth Sherman, along with several other directors of the American Chambers of Europe, while in Washington.
The U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Sherman said that the U.S. State Department provides technical assistance, to all states, in establishing investment filtering mechanisms.
The delegation had a meeting on Capitol Hill with Senator Thom Thillis, who recently visited Kosovo. Senator Thillis spoke about the need to overcome political challenges in the Western Balkans, especially in Bosnia and Herzegovina, while emphasizing his belief that all countries, including Kosovo, should become part of the regional common market initiative.
Current economic challenges were discussed in the meetings with senior U.S. officials, such as supply chain challenges following the post-COVID19 pandemic and, most recently, the war in Ukraine, widespread inflation, compromised food and energy security, and stock market instability, and China’s uncompetitive practices that also affect market distortions. It was a common conclusion that the Russian aggression, which has been strongly condemned by the network of American Chambers of Europe, has contributed to the increase of transatlantic unity, and that this, together with the strengthened economic cooperation, will alleviate the current economic challenges.
The delegation also met with Diane Farrell, Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade, Ambassador Jayme White, United States Deputy Trade Representative (USTR), and the leadership of APCO Worldwide, including Jess O’Connell and Susan Molinari.